Greggs reported a 20% rise in pre-tax profit to £76m for the first half of 2026, as the bakery chain benefited from lower-than-expected cost inflation and steady consumer demand.
Total sales reached £1.1bn for the 26 weeks to late June, up 7.2% year-on-year, while like-for-like sales at company-managed shops grew 2.1%. The company opened 34 net new stores, bringing its total to 2,773, and marked its first international shop in nearly two decades at Tenerife South Airport.
Greggs, which introduced a chicken roll and expanded its salad and drinks ranges during the period, said cost inflation came in at 2.2% against an earlier 3% forecast and does not expect further price rises this year. The chain is targeting 100 to 110 net new openings in 2026 and expects full-year underlying pre-tax profit to be similar to 2025's £172m.